master, which presents a portrait taken from nature, of the above-named pope, seated in his pontifical robes: at the foot of the figure is the name of the artist with the date of its completion.[1] This work is placed in a niche prepared with much care, and composed of different kinds of marbles, outside the door of the church of San Lorenzo, which is the cathedral of that city. A large number of medals were produced by this master, some of which are still to be seen, more particularly that of Pope Paul above-named, with those of the Aretine, Antonio Rosello,[2] and of Batista Platina,[3] both secretaries to that pontiff.
After these things, Vellano having returned to Padua with a very good name, was held in great esteem not only in his native city, but in all Lombardy and the March of Treviso, as well because there had not before been any very excellent artists in those parts, as because he had attained great skill in the founding of metals. At a later period, and when Vellano had already become old, the Signoria of Venice, resolving to erect an equestrian statue of Bartolommeo da Bergamo, adjudged the horse to the Florentine Andrea del Verrocchio, and the figure to Vellano. Andrea, who knew himself to be, as indeed he was, a much better master than Vellano, and had expected that the whole work would be confided to himself, fell into a violent fit of rage when he heard of this arrangement, and having first broken and destroyed the model, which he had already finished, he departed to Florence. But after a time, being invited to return by the Signoria, who accorded to him the entire work, he went back to complete it.[4] This gave Vellano so much displeasure, that without uttering a word, or showing his
- ↑ The city of Perugia decreed this statue to Paul II. in gratitude for the benefits conferred on the citizens by that pontiff, whodiad found means to appease their civil discords, and to restore order to their finances.
- ↑ Antonio Rosello, considered one of the most learned and eloquent men of his time, obtained the sounding title of “Monarch of Knowledge,” and was declared a new Lycurgus and a new Solon: he died in Padua at a very advanced age in 1467.—Masselli.
- ↑ Bartolommeo, and not Batista. This is the author of the Storia de' Papi, from St. Peter down to Paul II. He died at Rome in the year 1481, at the age of sixty, being then keeper of the Biblioteca Vaticana. — Ibid.
- ↑ Of the discords produced by this decision between the two artists, there is further notice in the life of Andrea Verrocchio, which follows.
